Amazing Faith

Sometimes I hate being a Christian. When you think about it in so many ways we’re weird ducks. Seriously, we say we follow a God we cannot say and we’ve never audibly heard … well at least that is my experience. Then on top of that we try our best to live by this virtue we call faith which constantly gets us in trouble it seems. I think that to the outside world being a Christian makes about as much sense as being a polygamist like we’re watching on TV in Texas.

So much about following Christ is so counter-intuitive to contemporary culture and modern-day rationalism. It’s like we do all kinds of crazy things claiming “God led us.” I mean … brilliant men and women with PhD “throwing it all away” to move to a harsh climate and culture to translate the Bible into new languages. Or what about people and friends I know purposely moving into violent poor inner-city neighborhoods with the notion that God is wanting them to bring change and healing? There are other radicals that feel so compelled that God is leading that they’re willing to pack up and relocate to places like Tucson without a job and all they know is “God said to move and plant a church …” Isn’t this totally silly and absurd? Maybe not …

The Book of Cities

“Cities are increasingly the focal points of human existence. People are coalescing around cities, which continue to evolve and change like living organisms.” (from The Book of Cities)

Last evening I made a late night run to Barnes and Noble. The family was asleep and there are not too many places open at 10:00 PM around here. I just needed to get out and look for a book. I am looking for a book called Meat Market which is about the inside scoop of college football recruiting. I’m a total geek for stuff like that.

What’s up with the tithe?

Listen to this quote, “Based on most current data, churches in America today spend less than 1% of their annual budget on the needs of the poor and hungry of our nation and world.” (p. 49 from Trolls and Truth by Jimmy Dorrell)

What is / was the purpose of the tithe in Old Testament times? Wasn’t the goal to collect a certain percentage of people’s grain to be put in the storehouses for those in need? Also, the Levites were covered under that as well. Then on top of that there was a temple tax that was separate to go towards upkeep and so on.

The New Urbanism

Sipping on a mocha made by an true Italian is wonderful experience. I sit here watching this Italian family get their cafe ready for another day of business. All around me are images on the walls of mountain ranges, boats, and canals from Italy. The funny thing is I’m sitting downtown Tucson in the middle of the Sonoran Desert at Caffe Milano.

If I have to say there’s one newspaper or magazine that I read each issue with eager anticipation it is the Downtown Tucsonan. Through this I keep up on downtown events, new businesses openings, revitalization progress, and so on. When I find a good event I love to bring the family down. There’s so much up and coming here whether it be the construction of One North Fifth apartment lofts to the growing Mercado District on West Congress (west of the freeway).